Volunteer ministry returns to county for summer projects

Marcus Davenport and Lisa Furches work on a porch for Paul Morrison as a part of Carolina Cross Connection. (Ben Earp/The Star)

By Aren Besson / Star intern

Published: Friday, July 12, 2013 at 04:37 PM.

Paul Morrison is 72 years old.

A group of young volunteers recently spent several days at his home building him a wheelchair ramp.

The volunteers are part of Carolina Cross Connection, an outreach ministry that provides home repair, maintenance and more for needy residents in western North Carolina. The organization draws volunteers from across the state.

CCC started volunteer work on homes in Cleveland County this past week, including the new ramp for Morrison, a Shelby native.

“We’ve been working on this ramp since yesterday morning through heat and rain, and I think it’s great work that we’re doing,” said 52-year-old Darrell Farren.

Most of the materials that CCC uses to build its projects come from donations, and all the work that they complete is free, according to CCC project organizer Chelsea Spires.

Carolina Cross Connection is still looking for projects to work on for the summer.

A group of young volunteers recently spent several days at his home building him a wheelchair ramp.

The volunteers are part of Carolina Cross Connection, an outreach ministry that provides home repair, maintenance and more for needy residents in western North Carolina. The organization draws volunteers from across the state.

CCC started volunteer work on homes in Cleveland County this past week, including the new ramp for Morrison, a Shelby native.

“We’ve been working on this ramp since yesterday morning through heat and rain, and I think it’s great work that we’re doing,” said 52-year-old Darrell Farren.

Most of the materials that CCC uses to build its projects come from donations, and all the work that they complete is free, according to CCC project organizer Chelsea Spires.

Carolina Cross Connection is still looking for projects to work on for the summer.

“It’s a first come, first served basis, and even if we don’t get to a specific project this summer we will probably get to it next summer,” Spires said.

Reach Aren Besson at 704-669-3338.

By the Numbers

1988 – the year Carolina Cross Connection was founded

1,400-plus – the number of volunteers CCC recruits from North Carolina and surrounding states each summer

5 – the number of camps CCC has spread out across North Carolina

60 – the number of projects that are usually completed in Cleveland County during a typical summer

200 – the number of volunteers that usually come from the Cleveland, Lincoln and Gaston county areas

What volunteers said in Shelby:

“This is my first year doing it and I love it.”

-Megan Purgar, Burlington

“I love the camp, I love its thoughts, I love the people, and even though the projects can be moderately difficult, I think that the work we’re doing here is great.”

-Darrell Farren, Sherrills Ford

“This is my fourth year working here, and I just love the people that I meet. I like coming down and working with my sons in this program.”

-Lisa Furches, Arcadia

“I love the people that I work for. Mr. Morrison is the sweetest man you’ll ever meet.”